99 Ford escort shifting problems
I have a 99 Ford Escort with over 250k miles on it right now that i desperately need to last a few more months until I can buy another car.
It's an automatic and when I start out driving I can feel its pulling or kind of stuttering to get up to speed until I hit over 35 mph. (dangerous on the highway so I avoid it when possible) Once I get above 35mph it drives smooth but god forbid I have to stop at all and try to pick back up to speed again. And today the service engine light started FLASHING. Which freaked me out. I forgot the name of the stuff this auto zone guy sold me to help keep my tranny from slipping but it's red and comes a white bottle. I wanna say its called Luke's but i'm not sure. Sometimes that seems to solve the problem but only for so long. I'm freaking out and just need some kind of advice to help keep it moving until I can put some more cash away for a a new car.
The check engine light flashing is most likely a separate problem if the car was struggling to reach 35mph long before the check engine light started flashing. The check engine light flashing indicates a misfire in the engine. The car struggling to reach speed in gears 1 and 2 (which is what it would be in before 35mph) is likely a transmission related problem, especially if it seems to accelerate smoothly after about 35mph (when the transmission would typically be in 3rd or 4th gear).
The engine problem may just be a loose plug wire, a bad spark plug, or a bad ignition coil - cheap fixes. What Autozone gave you was likely Lucas Transmission Fix. It is a (super thick) transmission fluid additive that can help stop automatic transmissions from slipping due to worn transmission parts, at least temporarily (some people claim it works for a long time, others don't have as much luck). It's cheap and it's not really going to hurt to add it, but it may or may not help depending on what's wrong so don't get your hopes too high for the magic fix in a bottle.
I too question whether it's a trans problem.
A flashing check engine light is declared in OBD2 protocol as a catalyst damaging misfire. I'm willing to bet that there's a plug or a wire failing. Strange that AutoZoo didn't scan for codes, go back and have them do that, it's usually free from them. Then write down the codes and report back to us.
Also, most trans shops will do a test drive with you and give you an opinion of whether or not it's a trans slipping -or- an engine misfire.
Are you sure it's the transmission and not the ignition coil or the map sensor or the fuel pump, I don't think the check engine light would come on for the transmission
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